Incinerator



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N MD W Jr-n9 March 26, 1940. o. B. ZIMMERMAN INCINERATOR Filed Nov. 30, 1938 2 Sheets-s 2 Drug;

March 26,1940 0. B. ZIMMERMAN INCINERATOR Filed Nov. so, 1958 7 l .l I L 5 4.. I v

. Patented Mar. 26, 1940 PATENT OFFICE INCINERATOB A Oliver 8.

Zimmerman, Davis,

Calif., assignor to Stewart-Burns, Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation oi'lilinois Application November 30, 1938, Serial No. 248,077 1: Claims. (Cl. 219 -20) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in incinerators and is particularly directed to a relatively small incinerator provided with electrical burning means and adapted to be connected to the ordinary plumbing system of a building whereby the fumes of combustion are carried away through the waste pipe of the plumbing system to the air.

The incinerator to which this invention is directed is intended for installation in a toilet or bathroom to provide an eflicient, hygienic Y means for disposing of bathroom refuse such as sanitary pads, catamenial bandages, cotton. gauze, hair and such matter that cannot be safely disposed of directly into the plumbing system because of the tendency of such material to clog the discharge pipes.

The primary object of this invention is therefore to provide a bathroom incinerator of simple and inexpensive structure that is adapted to be connected to the usual plumbing system whereby a draft is provided to aid combustion and to carry away the volatile products thereof to the atmosphere through a water seal.

Another object of this invention is to provide "such an incinerator of small, compact form whereby it may be installed readily and so as not to be in the way.

A further object of this invention is to provide such an incinerator with a control switch whereby the heating elements are put in operation only when the proper draft for aiding combustion and for removing the gases therefrom has been provided. I

Still a further object is to provide a simple and positive means for safely disposing of the fumes of combustion caused by the burning of the refuse within the incinerator.

Another object is to provide such an incinerator that may be safely operated without danger or odor.

Still further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation view, partly in crosssection, of an incinerator assembly embodying the invention herein described, installed for operation.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the incinerator box shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the box shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an alternative form of incinerator box.

Fig. 5 is a view of an alternative form of control switch in off position.

Fig. 6 is a view of the switch in "on" position. Fig. 7 is a side elevation view, partly in crosssection, showing an alternative form of incinera- 5 tor assembly. I

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view of still another form of incinerator assembly.

In detail, in Fig. l, the reference character I indicates a wash bowl provided with a faucet 2, 10 and a drain 8 leading through a trap 4 and pipe 40. to the waste pipe 5 of the plumbing system. The floor of the room is indicated at 8 and a wall thereof by the character 1. Pipe 8 is a water supplypipe and faucet 2 is Joined thereto 15 by pipe 9.

The incinerator box I0 comprises the compart ment wherein the refuse to be disposed of is placed and the burning means. This box is formed of outer and inner metal walls ii and i2 20 respectively, separated by air spaces II. A cover I8 is hinged to the top of one side and is provided with a handle l5. Insulator spacers i8 hold the walls in spaced relationship. A drawer i1 is 10- cated at the bottom of the box II and the front 25 panel l8 thereof is provided with air vents I8 and a handle 20. Above the drawer are posi:

tioned two electric heating coils 2|. These coils may be of any desired type but are preferably of the kind now available that are not affected 30 by direct contact with moisture. A screen 22 is positioned diagonally above the coils 2| and an exhaust outlet 23 is formed in one side of the box i0. Electric wires 24 are joined to the coils 2| and extend outside the box as shown. 35

A pipe 25 leads from the water supply pipe 8 L to an air ejector or vacuum inducer assembly comprising a nozzle 28 and a chamber 21 diminishing in diameter at the discharge end of nozzle 28. A pipe 28 leads from outlet 28 of box iii to the upper part of chamber 2] of the ejector assembly. The lower end of the. ejector is connected to a trap 28 which leads to pipe la.

A valve 88, having handle II, is positioned in pipe 28- to control the flow of water to the elector. The handle 8| is provided with an extension 82 which is operably joined to an arm 83 of electric switch 34, whereby, when valve 88 is opened, switch 34 will be closed.

One of the wires 24 is led to and from switch 34' and the wires are fastened to an electric plug "which is adapted to be attached to any usual source. of electricity such as socket 88.

Operation.--From the above detailed descrip- 55 tion it will be seen that the assembly will operate as follows:

The refuse to be disposed of is placed in the incinerator box or container Ill and the top closed. Handle 3| is moved to open valve 35 to permit water to flow through nozzle 25 of the ejector, through trap 29, pipe 4a and into waste pipe 5. The movement of handle 3| to open the valve 30 will close electrical switch 34 to cause current to flow through coils 2| to dry out and burn the refuse resting on screen 22. The water flowing through the ejector will create a suction in pipe 28 and will thereby create a draft through air vents IQ of the incinerator box Ill and will draw all fumes and odors from the burning refuse through outlet 23, pipe 28, and trap 28 to waste pipe 5, where they will be permitted to escape upward to the atmosphere. When the refuse has been thus disposed of, handle 3| is moved to close the water supply to the ejector and to break the electrical currentfiowing to the coils. 2|. A certain insignificant amount of the burnt refuse will fall through the screen into drawer H, which may be emptied directly into the discharge end of the plumbing system.

Fig. 4 shows a different form of incinerator box that may be used. The main difierences between this box and the one heretofore described is that it has a basket 31 for the refuse instead of screen 22 of box In and the heating coils 38 are positioned at each side of the basket 31. This arrangement is perhaps desirable where the heating coils are ,of the type that might be damaged by moisture dropping on them.

Figs, 5 and 6 illustrate a form of switch assembly that may be used in place of valve 30 and switch 34 as heretofore described. In this assembly 39 is the handle to the water control switch and extending past the pivot point 45 is an extension 4|, provided with a shield 42. This shield 42. when the valve is in closed position, is adapted to overlie electrical switch 43 which controls the electricity operating the heating coils of the incinerator box, as shown in Fig. 5. When it is desired to operate the incinerator the handle 39 is moved to open the valve and in so doing discloses the electrical switch 43, as shown in Fig. 6, which may then be turned on to heat the coils. This arrangement also obviates the possibility of starting the heating elements without first providing the forced draft necessary for good combustion and for carrying away the fumes and odors.

Fig. '7 illustrates a form of incinerator assembly different from that shown in Fig. 1 in that the incinerator box 44, the ejector assembly 45, and the electric switch 45 are enclosed in a single casing to provide a complete unit with a water inlet 41, a water outlet 48 and an electric cord with plug 49. The incinerator box may be of any desired construction but, as shown, embodies the form shown in Figs. 2 and 3. A partition 50 separates the incinerator box from the ejector and electric switch but an outlet pipe 5| connects the incinerator burning compartment with the ejector so that the proper draft and suction is provided for the purposes hereinabove described. The electric switch assembly 45 is slightly different from that shown in Fig. 1 but in principle is the same. The water valve handle 52 is provided with an extension 53 that actuates arm 54 of the switch to snap arm 55 to contact point 55 to close the switch to operate the heating coils in the incinerator box.

The inlet opening 41 is connected byplpe 51 to the water supply pipe of the-plumbing system and the outlet 45. is connected by pipe 55 to the discharge end of the plumbing system. The electric plug 45 is attached to a socket 55 which is joined to a source of electricity.

The operation is thesame as the structure of Fig. l. The ejector produces a suction when the water is turned on to provide a draft for combustio'n in the incinerator box and to draw off the fumes and gases of combustion. The unit construction just described has the advantage in installation for any plumber can join inlet 41 to a water supply pipe and outlet 45 to a pipe leading to the waste pipe ill. When this is done it is only necessary to insert the plug 45 in socket 5! and the assembly is ready for operation.

Fig. 8 illustrates a different form of incinerator assembly in-which the draft and suction is provided by a fan instead of by the movement of water through an ejector. Here the incinerator box of any desired construction but provided with electric heating-coils is shown at 5|. The box has an outlet 52 and a pipe 55 leads from outlet 52 to an ejector fan assembly 54 comprising a motor 55, fan blades 65 and a casing 51 enclosing blades 55 and provided with an inlet 55 and an outlet". Outlet 59 is joined to a water trap 15 comprising a casing I I, an inlet pipe 12 leading to a, point adjacent the bottom of the casing ll, an outlet 13 and a removable cover 14. A pipe I5 leads from outlet 13 to the waste pipe 15 of the plumbing system. The watertrap I5 is filled with water to a point below the inlet and outlet openings. The heating coils are connected to a source of electricity by means of wires I1 and a plug 15 inserted in a socket 19. The motor 55 is provided with electricity by means of wires 55 which lead from wires 11. Interposed between box ii and plug 15 are respectively fuse block 8|, signal light 52, and switch 83.

In operation: When the incinerator assembly shown in Fig. 8 is to be operated theswitch 53 is moved to closed position, whereupon signal 52 is illuminated, to show the assembly is in operation, motor 55 is started to move blades 55 to provide a draft through the incinerator, and the coils in the box are .heated. Thus it can be seen that the'desired draft is produced immediately and the suction withdraws all fumes and gases from the box 5| and they are thereupon directed through water trap 10 and out of the building through the waste pipe I5.

It is obvious that a fuse block and a signal light may also be installed in the assemblies shown in Figs. 1 and 7.

I Under certain circumstances it may be desirable to destroy the refuse by means of acids applied thereto in the incinerator box in which case of course the heater coils will be eliminated and the refuse receiving means will be constructed of acid resistant material.

. I claim:

1. An incinerator assembly comprising, in combination with -a plumbing system, a refuse receiving' box, an exhaust pipe leading from the box to the waste pipe of the plumbing system, an air ejector for removing air from the incinerator into the-exhaust pipe, heating means in the incinerator for causing combustion of the refuse to be dwtroyed, a valve for'the air ejector, a control member for the valve, and a control member for the heating means, said control members so relatively arranged that the heating means cannot be put into operation before the air ejector.

2. An incinerator assembly comprising, in combination with a plumbing system, a refuse receiving and burning container, an exhaust pipe leading from the container to the waste pipe of the plumbing system, an air ejector for removing air from the incinerator into the exhaust pipe, heating means in the incinerator for causing combustion of the refuse to be destroyed and controls for the air ejector and the heating means operably combined whereby the heating means and air ejector are put into operation at substantially the same time.

3. An incinerator assembly comprising, in combination with a plumbing system, a box for receiving the refuse to be destroyed, an electrical heating element in the box, an exhaust outlet in the box, a water actuated air ejector to withdraw gases from the box, a pipe connecting the exhaust outlet with the ejector, a pipe connecting the ejector with a supply of water, a pipe connecting the ejector with the waste pipe of the plumbing system, a valve for controlling the flow of water through the ejector, a switch for turning on and off the heating element and means operably connecting the valve and the switch whereby when the valve is opened to admit water through the ejector the switch is closed to effect a heating of the element.

4. An incinerator assembly comprising, in combination with a plumbing system, a box for receiving the refuse to be destroyed, an electrical heating element in the box, an exhaust outlet in the box, a water actuated air ejector for removing fumes from the box, a pipe connecting the exhaust outlet with the ejector, a pipe connecting the ejector with a. supply of water, a pipe connecting the ejector with the waste pipe of the plumbing system, a valve for controlling the flow of water through the ejector, a switch for turning on and oil the heating element so arranged with relation to the valve that it may not be operated when the valve is closed.

5. An incinerator assembly comprising a casing, a partition dividing the casing into two compartments, a refuse receiving shelf in one of said compartments, an electric heating coil in said compartment, a water actuated ejector in said other compartment for removing fumes from the first compartment, a pipe connecting said ejector with said first compartment, a water supply conduit leading through the casing to the ejector, a water return pipe leading through the casing from the ejector, a valve for controlling the supply of water to the ejector, a switch for controlling the supply of electricity to the coil and means operably connecting the valve and the switch whereby when the valve is opened the switch is closed.

, 6. An incinerator comprising a refuse receiv ing box, electric heating means in said box for drying and burning the refuse, a switch for said heating means, a water operated vacuum inducer joined to said box so as to withdraw gases and fumes therefrom when in operation, a valve for controlling the water supply to said inducer and mechanism operably joining the valve control with the electric switch whereby the switch is closed when the valve is opened.

7. An incinerator assembly comprising 'a refuse burning receptacle, heat producing means in the receptacle, a vacuum inducer joined thereto so as to remove fumes therefrom when in operation and a combination control device for simultaneously starting the inducer and the heating means.

8. An incinerator assembly-comprising a refuse burning receptacle, electric heating means in the receptacle, 8. water operated vacuum inducer connected to the receptacle so as to remove gases therefrom when in operation, a valve for controlling the flow of water through the inducer, a switch for controlling the flow of electricity through the heating means and an extension on the valve joined to the switch for causing the switch to close when the valve is opened.

9. An incinerator assembly comprising a refuse burning receptacle, electric heating means in the receptacle, a water operated vacuum inducer connected to the receptacle so as to remove gases therefrom when in operation, a valve for controlling the flow of water through the inducer, a switch for controlling the flow of electricity through the heating means and an extension on the valve overlying the switch to prevent the switch from being closed when the valve is closed.

10. An incinerator unit comprising a casing, a partition dividing the casing into two compartments, electric heating means in one compartment, a water operated vacuum inducer in the other compartment for removing gases from the first compartment, a conduit leading from the first compartment to the vacuum inducer, a water supply pipe leading to the inducer, a pipe leading from the inducer, a valve for controlling the flow of water through the inducer and a switch for controlling the supply of electricity to the heating means.

11. An incinerator assembly comprising in combination, a receptacle for receiving the refuse to be destroyed, electric heating means in said receptacle, an exhaust outlet for the fumes of combustion, a water supply pipe adapted to furnish water to the assembly for creating a suction for withdrawing the fumes of combustion from the combustion chamber, a waste pipe, a conduit leading from the supply pipe to the waste pipe, an exhaust pipe connecting the exhaust outlet of the receptacle to the waste pipe through said conduit, a valve for controlling the flow of water from the supply pipe through said conduit into the waste pipe and a switch for controlling the flow of electricity through said heating means adapted to be closed only when the valve is opened.

12. An incinerator assembly comprising, in combination with a plumbing system, a refuse receiving box, means for destroying the refuse in the box, an exhaust conduit leading from the box to the waste pipe of the plumbing system, an air ejector for removing fumes from the refuse box into the said exhaust conduit, and means preventing the operation of the refuse destroying means when the ejector is not in operation.

13. An incinerator umt for assembly in combination with a plumbing system comprising a casing, heating means in one portion of the casing, a water operated vacuum inducer in another portion of the casing for removing gas from the first portion, a conduit leading from the first portion to the vacuum inducer, a drain pipe leading from the inducer, a member for controlling the operation of the heating means and connections on the outside of the casing for connecting said inducer to a source of water and said drain pipe to the waste pipe of the plumbing system.

OLIVER B.

I CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION." Patent No. '2,19l;,h90.' o March 26, 191m.

OLIVER B. ZIHIIERMAN. A

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of theabove nfimbe'red patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5 first column, line 16-17, claim 5, for the words "to withdraw" read -for r'emoving line 26, same claim, after 'fejector insert "to withdraw gases from the bbx, and that the aim Letters Patent should be read with. this correction therein that the same may conformto the record of the case in the Patent Office. Q

Signed and sealed this lith day of June, A. D. .1940.

Henry Van 'Arsdale,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE OF coRREcTIoN.- Patent No. '2,19L;,-l;9o." MarchZ, 191m.

OLIVER B. ZIMMERMAN.

It is hereby certified. that error appears in the printed specification of the above inimbered patent requiring oorrec'tion as'follows-z Page 3 first columxi, line 16-17, claim 5, for the words "to withdraw" read --for re moving-;- line 26, game claim, after 'fe jector' insert; --to withdraw gases from the box,- and. that the sold Letters Patent should be read with thie correction therein :that the same may conformfbo the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed. and sealed this 1 .th day of June A. D. .19uo.

Henry Van 'Arsdale,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

